Poland: Baltic shale well has continuous gas shows

Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, has completed drilling a shale gas exploratory well in the Baltic basin in Poland.

The Lewino 1G-2 well, on the Gdansk W concession, went to 3,600 m and encountered continuous gas shows over more than 1,000 m in middle and lower Silurian shales, Ordovician, and upper Cambrian, said partner San Leon Energy PLC (OGJ, Nov. 7, 2011, p. 36). Gas shows consist of methane with small percentages of ethane, propane, butane, and pentane.

More than 310 m of core were taken in the well to evaluate the rock properties, and an extensive open hole logging program was also performed to further evaluate the potential of the area. Evaluation and interpretation of the core and logs is expected to take 3-4 months in preparation for continued operations later in 2012.

Following completion of the well for potential future operations, Talisman will move the rig to the Braniewo concession to spud the Rogity-1 well, to be followed by a well on the Szczawno concession. Future operations are expected to include a long-offset horizontal and multistage frac.

The next step, San Leon Energy said, is to evaluate the geological data in preparation for the next phase: to prove the viability of commercially producing the huge quantity of gas from the Baltic basin.